Ventilating apparatus



(N0 MdeL-)I .f v I l 3 SI`1eets-:Sheet-2-J-'.- i"

. '-P. MURPHY.-

VBNTILATING APPARATUS.:

No.'famv'sg `,[Pat'entedpg.:10,1388;

UNITED STATES PATENT`A @Erica FRANCISMURPHY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

fernerrrcarron forming par; of Letters Parent No. 381,078. dared apra1o, 1888.`

Applicaticn filed May 7,1887. Serial No. 937,401. (No model.) A

To all whom it may concern: f

Be it known that I, FRANCIS MURPHY,a-citi zenof the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of ,Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Ventilating Apparatuspofwhich the following is a speciication.- This invention relates to lanimprovement in ventilators `particularly adapted for use in mineswherein' it is desirable at times to force a current of air down througha shaft ofthe mine, and at other times to exhaust from the Y mine byinducing acurrent of air up rthrough the shaft. An illustration of anapparatus for such purpose may be found in a ventilator se-` cured to meby Letters Patent of the United States No. l76,756,'and` involving inits construction the'presence of a couple of rotary fan'- wheels inconnection with three stationary' chambers, whereof the middle one ofthe three chambers may be said to constitute the receiving-chamber, fromwhence air is supplied to the two stationary fan-wheel chambers ineither In my said apparatusl forcing or exhausting. the. chambers areprovided with certain doors,

whereby for forcing air into a mine the'doors` can beset to admit airyfrom without into the receiving-chamber,v and from thence to direct thecurrent into and-downwardly through the side fan-wheel chambers to theshaft. Onthe' other hand, to exhaust from the mine therdoors canbe setto direct the currentfrom the shaft vupwardly into thereceiving-chamber, thence into the side fan-wheel chambers,- 'and thenceout into the open pir. operations the' two-fan-wheels are caused torevolve in one and the same direction, there-` versal of the directionof the current beingdue to the adjustment of theseveral doors. 1 rllhepresence of f two fan-,wheels in such yapparatus has been renderednecessary in order tolbal-v ance each wheel as against lateral pressure,and to such end the two fanwheels are secured upon a rotary shaft commonto both.

During both ofsaid` hausting or for. creating fa current alternately inopposite directions; todispense with the em-V plo'yment of amultiplicity offdoors or gates and means for operating thepsame, andingen.- eral to simplify the construction of the apparatusgftoadapt theapparatus forl ready appli- Y cation either at the mouthoflthepitorshaft,

or at any desired pointfalong any of the gal,- leries or passagesthroughfa minevorthe like.; to insure the true and ready working of theapparatus' under all circumstances, and to pro-v vide certain novel andimproved details,ryallA tending*l to promote the' general efficiency yofthe apparatus.y

useful ends .my inventionV consistsin matters .Il 2651.-:- To theattainment of the foregoing and other hereinafter described, andparticularly pointed l out in the claims. y t y In carrying/out theprinciples of my invention I inclose a suitable fan-wheelwithinareversiblerorrotary adjustablecasing Whiohcan l be swung aboutthe axis of the fan-wheel so as to bring the discharge mouth or outletof such fan-wheel casing into position to discharge alternately inopposite directions. Iny this way, should the Ventilatin g apparatus beplaced at the mouthof a shaft or pit, the fan-wheel vcasingcan beseteither for forcing air -downl thronghthe shaft or for exhausting fromthe same, or, should the apparatus be located atone end of or atanypoint within a tunnel vor otherfpassage,` the fan-wheel casin g rcan'loesetV forcreating a current of ai-r in eitherdirection y through 'suchtunnel or passage,.whle,lirre spective of the 4adjustment of thefan-wheel,

'casing' and rthe direction in which its month is pointed to discharge,the fan-wheel itself can be driven either continuously or at desiredtimes jin one and the same direction. Isalso casing' 'isadj usted forlcreating a current in eitherof the two directions through the pasl sageof a shaft, tunnel,V or the llike the transverse area of such passageshall at therpoint the discharge mouth or opening of thefanwheel casing,in( which way, whilevthe fanwheel casing can discharge at'one side ofsuchV point, it can take in air fromthe'opposite sidey of the same.'i Asa simple and efficient .conv-j 9o provide means' whereby when .thefan-'wheel struction for t-he attainment of such end, the fan-wheelcasing can be mounted within a receiving-chamber open at both ends or atopposite points, and formed within a suitable casing which can be seteither at the entrance to or at any point within the passage of a shaft,tunnel, or the like, whereby such chamber serves either as an extensionot' such passage or as a portion of the saine. Under such arrangementthe fan-wheel can be adjusted to discharge from either end of thereceivingchamber whereof the end at which such discharge is to takeplace can be temporarily con-v tracted in area to the area of thedischargemonth of the fan-wheel casing, leaving, however, theoppositeend of the receiving-chamberopen, so as to supply air to t-he fan-wheel.This temporary contraction of the receivingchamber alternately atopposite ends can be attained by providing around the dischargemouth ofthe fan-wheel casinga tlangeor' ledge, which,when the fan-wheel casingis adjusted to discharge from either end of the receivingchamber, willentirely close the space between thesides of the receiving-chamber andthe fanwheel casing at a point adjacent to the discharge-month of thelatter.

. Other matters of construction herein involved and tending to thegeneral eiciency of Ventilating apparatus will be hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l representsin isometric perspective inyimproved apparatus applied for service in connection with the shaft of amine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail representing a bearing for and oneofthe hollow hubs orjournals of the fan-wheel casing, with the axle ofthe fau-wheel in cross-section. Fig. 3 represents the apparatus in sideelevation with a portion of the outer casingbroken away, the fan-wheelcasing being set for forcing airdown through the shaft of a mine. Fig. 4isa sectional elevation taken on a plane coincident with the plane ofthe elevationin the preceding figure. In this view the fan-wheel casingis set for exhausting from the mine. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on aplane indicated by the line a: w, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is avertical centralsection taken through Fig. 4 on a. plane indicated by the line y y.

In said drawings,Aindicates thefan-wheel, and B the adjustable orreversible fan-wheel casing, which serves to provide a chamber for thefan-wheel. The adjustable fan-wheel casing is `provided with the twooppositely-arranged air-inlet openings b and b,'and with an enlargedmouth or discharge-opening, as at b. The inlet-openings b are arranged,respectively, at opposite sides of the casing at points to providepassages about the axis of the fan-wheel, while the discharge-opening bis arranged to permit a large volume of air to be thrown from thefan-wheel directly out from the casing.-

The preferred form of casing is proximately that of ahalf-elliptic-shaped drum, open at its largest end,which thus forms anexpanded mouth. The casing is hung to turn about the axis of thefan-wheel, which said axis is `desirably at one side of the middle pointof the casing, thereby locating the fan-wheel somewhat eccentric to thecurved wall of its inclosing chamber, as best shown in Fig. 4, whereinit will be seen that,by reason of such relativedispostionof thefan-wheel and casing, the space b2 of the fan-wheel chamber, which isunoccupied by the fan, contracts toward one end and expands toward itsopposite end. The contracted end of this space b" commences at the pointwhere the air is first thrown off from the fan-wheel, from which pointthe said space gradually expands to the enlarged discharge-mouth of thecasing. It will also be seen that between said point of contraction andthe mouth of the casing the curved portion b3, Fig. 4, of the peripheralwall of the fan-wheel chamber lies in a curve, which from the pointwhere the air is first thrown on" from the fan-wheel runs oli' tan'-gential to the fan-wheel. By such preferred arrangement a large volumeof air can without impediment be thrown oil' from the fanwheel and outfrom the fan-wheel casing, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4.

The fan-wheel casing Bis susceptible of rotary adjustment withinastationary receivingchamber, C, which is open at both ends, as at c andc, whereby the exit or discharge opening of the adjustable fan-wheelcasing can be brought into position for discharging out from either ofthe two open ends ofthe receivingchamber.

The adjustable fan-wheel casing is made somewhat smaller than the areaof the receiving-chamber Gin order to provide'within the latter amplespace for the reception of air and for supplying the same to the sideinlets of the fan-wheel casing. The fan-wheel casing is, however,adapted to close the receiving-chamber at its two ends ormouthsalternately, the end of the receiving-chamber closed by thefan-wheel casing being dependent upon the position of the latter fordischarging. Thus when the fan-wheel casing is in position fordischarging from one end of the receiving-chamber the latter will beotherwise closed at said end and its opposite end opened to admitair tothe fanwheel. A reversal of the fanwheel casing will, however, reversethe order of the foregoing conditions. To the attainment of such end thefan-wheel casing is provided with a broad ilange or ledge, D,surrounding the fan-wheel casing at a point adjacent to the dischargemouth or opening b thereof, which said flange,when the fan-wheel casingis at either of its two extreme positions, respectively illustrated byFigs. 3 and 4, serves to close the receiving-chamber at one endthat isto say, to close at one end of the receiving-chamber the spaceintervening between the walls of the receiving-chamber and the fan-wheelcasing. The flange D is thus in effect a shifting gate or diaphragmcapable of alternately closing the receiving-chamber ICC at oppositeends, but provided-with anopening substantially corresponding with theoutalet of the fan-wheel casing. By such arrange# ment, when thefanwheel casing hasy been thrown into either one of its two extremepositions it will be inpositio'n to discharge from oneof the two ends ofthe'recei'ving-chamber,

which latter will be closedat oneend, but open at its opposite end forreceiving air and conducting the sameto the fan-wheel;V This is clearlyillustrated by.Figs. 3 and 4, wherein the two positions of the fan-wheelcasing are shown. In said figures-the stationary casing of therecelvmg-chamber is shown arranged over a short lateral extension orside passage,

E, of the upper portion of the shaft` E of a mine, the open ends c ofthe receiving-chamber formingy in such case, respectively, theV top andbottom ends ofthe receiving-chamber.

In Fig.- 3 the apparatus is in conditionV for forcing air into the mine,the adjustable fan-V V hence. to leave theitop of said chamber open.

In Fig. 4 the apparatus is set for exhausting from the'mine, thefan-wheel casing being shown reversed'in position and ready fordischarging out from the top end of the receivingchamber, which latteris now closed at said.

mouth-of the fanwheel 'casing will befproptop end by the liange ordiaphragm D.

Underiboth ofthe `two foregoing conditions the fan-wheel will be drivenin one and the same direction from an engine or suitable Ino` I Y as toturn or swing independently of the axle tor stationed vat any desiredpoint.

The fan-wheel casing is hunger mounted so of the fan-wheel, but4 aboutthe axis thereof, whereby the.fanwheel casing can be freely turned so asto reverse the position Aof its discharge-outlet vwithout interferingwith the fan wheel, and at the same time the proper relativerelationship between the fan-wheel casing `and the fan-wheel will bepreserved'irrespect-` ive ofthe position of the said casing.

As a means for mounting the fan-wheel casing it is provided with acouple of hollow hubs or journals, F, respectively located at oppositesides of the-saine and rigidly connected with the fan-wheel casing byarms F', arranged to radiate'from the hollow hubs to an extent to spantheinletfopenings b of the fan-'wheel casing and permitV the securementof theirv outer-end 'to the side'of such` casing at intervals around theinlet-openings thereof. These arms maybe secured to the hollow hubs, but

. are more desirably 'cast integral therewith.

1 of the stationary receivingchamber either to the side walls thereoforto any'suitable fixture. f l The rotary shaft or axle A,whereon thefanwheel issecn-red, extends centrally through the hollow hubs or.journals F o f thefanjw'heel casing, but is free from bearingorfrlctlonal Ycontact with said hubs or journals, in which way the'journals ofthe fan-wheel casing can turn freely and independently of thefan-wheel axle, whictrlatter willof course be `in no wise affected byany rotary adjustment on the part ofthe fan-wheel casing.

are separate and vindependent from the bearings for the'fan-wheel casingaudmay be conveniently arranged outside vof thev outer. stationarycasing of the receivingchalnber.'

ThebearingsH for the axle of the`fan-wheel To insure the steady anduniform running ofl the fan-wheel under all circumstances and to avoidundue binding upon or cramping' of the axle,'should,'for example, anyportion of i the outer frame yor casingsag by reasoniof a j giving awayof the earth or other supporting g media,` the bearings for the saidaxle are in the nature of rocking or universalbearings.. 'lo f" suchend'the .blocks or bearings h, Fig.'6,

through which the axle'passes, are externallyl` rounded'and heldwithinbearings' or seatsh,

which are internally concaved in correspondl* ence with the roundedbearings'h, therebyprof viding rockingor universal joints between thetwo,which will render the'bearings self-adj usting with reference tosuchinclination as ther.

axle might be caused to assume.

v The flange or ledgeD around the dischargei erly secured to the latterandsuitably'braced-f as, for example, by bracesDf, disposed at denV isired points.

As herein sho\vn,the diaphragm orledge'iD is beveled at its opposite endedges,which bev. el'ed edges are adapted to match 'Y the c'orre- Ispondingly-beveled` facesof certain portions IOS of the casing of thereceiving-chambers whenl the fan-wheel casingis at either of itsftw-,oex- 'y I IC)Y treme positions. Thus, for example,when the fan-wheelcasing is in position for exhaustingl eled-edge ofthe ledge `ordiaphragm will cui fromthe shaft or tunnel, as in Fig. 4, one bevter'andfit a beveled groove, c,in o neside wall of the casing of the receivingchamber C,while phragm will tit against alike beveled edgeof aledge, c?,fixed within `and tofthe said outer stationary casing.; I k

The construction and arrangement ofthe wings `or bladesof the fan-,wheelherein shownV are substantially the sameas in my patent here- Y inbeforereferred to;

i While-ramon limit myself tothe construe-Q Y Y' set forth in `my saidpatent will 'be `found de# v vsirable and exceedingly effective.

tion of fan-wheel employed, the .construction The `fan-wheel kisstrengthened `-and' its.. pei ripheral ring `or rim supported by radialarms a, which connecttherim portion with -hubsr collars fixed upon theaxle A.

arms have their surfaces set obliquely vto 4the plane of the fan-wheel,in order .to assist dur-V c ing the rot-ationof ythe latter in drawingair 1136 i These radial H5 the opposite beveled edge of the ledgeordia-`l through the opening in the fan-wheel casing and into the wheel. Auannular angc, d, is also desirably applied to each side of the fanwheelor to the fan-wheel casing, and each arranged as a guard to close anyspace between the edge ofthe circular opening b in the fanwheel casingand a similar openingin the fanwheel.

Since the reversible or adjustable fan-casing is provided withinlet-openings at opposite sides of the fan-wheel, the latter willbalance as against pressure during operation, and hence but one fan berendered necessary for forcing air into a mine or through a tunnel andfor exhausting from the same.

In the several figures of the drawings the apparatus is represented asapplied for forcing the air down into a mine and for exhausting v airtherefrom, to which end the heavy framework K,for supporting the casingc of the airreceiving chamber, canbelaid upon theground but it will beobvious that the apparatus could be appliedat any point alonga passagewithin the mine, or at the entrance to or other point within a tunnel orother passage wherein it may be desirable to induce a current of airalternately in opposite directions.

In conclusion, it may be sta-ted that with regard to thehereinbeforedeseribed feature of the fan-wheel casing capable of rotaryadj ustment about the axis ofthe fan-wheel and'provided with hollowjournals through which the axle orjonrnals, said feature is hereinundea.

stood to be applicable in other connectionssuch, for example, as setforth in applications for Letters Patent of the United States heretoforefiled by me, and serially numbered 26,464 Y and 83,592.

WhatI claim as my invention is 1. In a Ventilating apparatus, thecombination, with a rotary fan-wheel, of the reversible fan-wheel casinginclosing the fanwheel, and a chamber open at oppositely-disposed pointsand constituting a passage wherein the fanwhcel casing is mounted andcapable of adjustment for directing a current either way through thesaid chamber, substantially as described.

2. In a Ventilating apparatus, the combination, with thereeeiving-chamber open at opposite points, of a fan-wheel and thereversible fan-wheel casing provided with a flange or ledge, D, andmounted within the receiving chamber to turn about the axis of thefanwheel, said ledge of the fan-wheel casing being adapted to close thespace between the sides of the receiving-chamber and the fan-wheelcasing when the latter is in position to discharge from either of theoppositely-arranged openings of the receiving-chamber, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with thefan-wheel casing capable of rotary adjustment about the axis of thefan-wheel and provided with hollow jonrnals, ofthe fan-wheel having itsaxle extending through the hollow journals of the fan-wheel casing, thesaid journals of the fan-wheel casing being supported upon bearingsindependent of the bearings for the fan-whcel axle, substantially as setforth.

4. In a Ventilating apparatus, the combination, with the rotaryadjustable fan-wheel casing, of the fan-wl1eel having its axleindependent of the fan-wheel casing and mounted upon separate rockingbearings, substantially as described.

FRANGIS MURPHY.

Witnesses: I

CHAs. G. PAGE, L. S. LOGAN.

